Improvement in combined rulers and blotters



T. MERRILL.

Combined Rulers and Blotters.

No. 145,068. Patented Dec.2,1813.

C o A I" gz @Caf f/QQ m MO n WM #gy wwf UNITED' STATES PATENT QEEICEo THOMAS MERRILL, or PORTLAND, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT lN COMBINED RULERS AND BLOTTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,068, dated December 2, 1873; application filed September 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, THOMAS MERRILL, of Portland, in the county of Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Ruler and Blotter 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, that will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part from each other.

I do not claim a rule operating on or with a roller or rollers.

My invention consists in the combination, hereinafter described, of a rule with a roller, in the manner set forth, and also of the combination of the rule, roller, and a device to effect graduated ruling; also, of the ruler, roller, and blotter, in combination.

A shows the rule. B shows the roller. These are united at their ends by the connecting-pieces C. These pieces C are rigidly fastened to the rule A by screws, or any convenient means.

The roller B revolves, as the device is passed over any surface, on the short shafts or pins D, extending through the connectingpieces C, and penetrating into the ends of the roller a proper distance. As the device is drawn over any surface, the roller revolves, and draws, of course, the rule with it, resting flat on the surface.

VOn the bottom face of the rule and around the periphery of the roller is a blotting substance, E. F show notches or teeth on the roller. Into these ts the springtongue G,

riveted, also, to the top surface of the rule A. When a number of parallel lines are to be made, this can be done by moving the roll sufficiently far to let the tongue slip over each any single one of the sets of teeth on the roll.

Advantage can sometimes be obtained by having the roll grooved, so that when it rests on a surface it shall so rest on two of the longitudinal projections between the grooves.

A roughened surface can be made on the roll, to prevent its moving too readily when used for certain purposes.v

The roll may be scooped or recessed, so that only its ends shall come in contact with the surface over which it is passed, in order to avoid the roll being turned or deflected by such inequalities.

The blotting substance on the bottom sur face of the roll can be so located as to absorb any of the ink from the pen used to make the lines, and so prevent it from extending to the paper, or destroying the sharpness of the lines.

I do not claim the combination of a blotter, roll, and ruler as shown in the patent of U. S. Ball, No. 112,406, nor a removable blotter-roll connected with a case partially surrounding the roll, shown in the same patent; neither do I claim the combination of a lateral gage with a roller, in order to make the distances between the lines uniform, as described in J. C. Nevins7 forfeited case, received and filed January 2S, 1867; neither do I claim arranging one or more ratchet-wheels and pawls on a cylindrical ruler, the ruler being carried in two side arms projecting from a bar, to which a handle is attached for moving the roller, as shown in W. H. Mayos forfeited case, received and filed November 2, 1867.

My invention differs from the ones above referred to in several particulars-viz., in having a blotter upon the roller, one onv the ruler, and in having the spring-pawl f'astened to the ruler and playing into the teeth of the pawl upon the roller; also, in having the spring so arranged as to slide along the top In testimony that I claim the foregoing I of the rule, to fit diorently-spaoed teeth upon have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of the 1011. August7 187 3.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 7 THOMAS MERRILL' The combination of the blotting-rule A; Witnesses: blotting-roller B7 side pieces C, tongue Gr, and WM. HENRY CLIFFORD7 teeth F, for the purposes set forth. FRANK H. J oRDAN. 

